Universal Decoder for Airborne Generated Data Navy SBIR FY2014.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2014.2 Topic No.: N142-098 Topic Title: Universal Decoder for Airborne Generated Data Proposal No.: N142-098-0092 Firm: RMCI, INC 1525 PERIMETER PKWY STE 430 HUNTSVILLE, Alabama 35806-3572 Contact: Michael Zekoff Phone: (256) 489-9068 Web Site: www.rmci-inc.com Abstract: The Navy currently uses a variety of aviation data collectors to collect operational data that is analyzed to enable MFOQA and accident investigations. Many of these data collectors have a closed file format that changes periodically and cannot be decoded without OEM assistance. New research and development is required to create a tool capable of decoding these files without reliance on the OEM. We propose to research the feasibility of Intelligent Data File Interpretation (IDFI), a software technology and tool capable of identifying and decoding arbitrary binary files from aviation data collectors. Our proposed research focuses on the use of statistical analysis techniques to make inferences about the content of the file that would be difficult or impossible. In addition, we propose research into combining other techniques (heuristic analysis and human-aided decoding) with the statistical analysis research in order to create a file format decoder that is robust against changes in file formats or the introduction of new formats. The proposed IDFI software tool is capable of operating in user-assisted and in batch mode, is modular and capable of extension, and decodes input files to a variety of open file formats for easy analysis with existing tools. Benefits: IDFI offers numerous benefits to both the military and commercial industry. Once developed, IDFI will allow the Navy to rapidly identify the format of files downloaded from aircraft and automatically process them in batches to convert the data to a standard format. If a file format changes or a new file type is encountered, the Navy will be able to quickly and easily update the stored format descriptions using the IDFI tool. The same technology will have significant utility in civilian and other DOD applications as well. IDFI will be beneficial whenever a user needs access to data stored in an unknown file format. Decoding such files in very difficult using existing tools, and IDFI will greatly accelerate this process, providing significant savings in labor and software costs. In some cases, OEMs use non-standard file formats ensure that their customers stay dependent on the OEMs for access to data even though the customer owns the data. The IDFI tool will allow the customers to access their data without relying on the OEM. Return